Monday, 4 March 2013

RACE FOR THE RYMAN PREMIER TITLE

RYMAN PREMIER DIVISION CURRENT TABLEshowing teams TheColdEnd rates with a title chance

POS

TEAM

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

GD

PTS

PP

FORM

1.

WHITEHAWK

31

18

9

4

68

36

+32

63

96

LWWLWD

2.

WEALDSTONE

29

16

8

5

51

27

+24

56

95

WWWDWW

4.

CONCORD RANGERS

26

14

6

6

53

38

+15

48

96

WWWLDW

6.

LOWESTOFT TOWN

25

13

7

5

41

21

+20

46

97

WWWDDD

The race for the Ryman League Premier Division Title and with it promotion to the Conference South Division is now realistically down to just the four teams above. Third placed Canvey Island have a points total of 50 from 29 games and Bury Town (fifth place) have 47 from 30 games. Their possible points totals of 89 and 83 if they win all their remaining games is probably too low to consider them to be in with a shout of the title.

The front runners are clearly Whitehawk and Wealdstone with The Hawk's current seven point gap a very nice cushion for the South Coast club. The Beachboys and The Trawlerboys downfall maybe the amount of games they have to play in the coming weeks.

Lowestoft Town (after two 0-0 home draws on the trot v Enfield Town and Whitehawk) entertain Hastings United tonight and then play Ipswich Town on Wednesday in the Suffolk Premier Cup Semi-Final at Kirkley and Pakefield's Walmer Road ground. Every league game for them is now a must win after the draw with Whitehawk on Saturday. The problem for the Suffolk side this season has been hitting the back of the net with only 41 goals scored (currently ranked 11th in the scoring table of which Whitehawk, Concord and Wealdstone are the 1st, 2nd and 3rd). The bookmakers make Lowestoft 2/5 firm favourites to win tonight with a surprise Hastings United victory at 5/1. I can't see anything but a home victory here.

Whitehawk have recently lost the services of key midfielder Tommy Fraser who has moved to Australia to sign for the Melbourne Knights but have signed ex Bradford City, Frickley Athletic, Chester City, Garforth Town and Hinckley United defender/midfielder Inderjeet Aujla. When playing for Frickley earlier in the season he apparently attracted the attention of football league scouts.

The title odds are currently 8/13 for Whitehawk to win with Wealdstone at 3/1, Lowestoft at 7/1 and Concord Rangers at 12/1. This Saturday sees one of the games of the season taking place at The Enclosed Ground in Brighton. Wealdstone will bring a large away support and out number the home fans in what could be a key title deciding game. It's another game The Hawks would be happy to take a point from but The Stones will look at as must win if they want to finish top of the table.

Concord Rangers come to Donkey Lane tomorrow night for what looks like a fascinating league fixture. Concord have four wins in their last six games with only one defeat (to Whitehawk) with Enfield Town on three wins in six and only one defeats (a narrow one to Wealdstone).

Bognor Regis Town are currently bottom of the form table whom after so impressively won at Donkey Lane on Saturday 26th January have lost five of of six games failing to score in all of the defeats. The other game was an amazing 4-4 draw at East Thurrock United. They are now eight points off of 5th place and have probably lost too many games (12 out of 29) to be considered play-off contenders.

The below shows the forthcoming fixtures for the four teams with Weladstone also facing Concord Rangers on the 16th March. Concord have a really tough schedule playing Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of this week.

ARE RELEGATION THREATENED THURROCK THE KEY?

The key teams could be current 21st placed Thurrock who face a really hectic and tough schedule over the coming weeks. They travel the ultra short distance to East Thurrock United on Tuesday night before going to Wingate for a relegation six pointer on Sunday. Then they face home games versus Wealdstone, Whitehawk and Lowestoft Town in the space of seven days followed by four tough away games at Concord Rangers, Leiston, Hendon and Margate. All of these nine games are nicely squeezed in to be played before the end of March!